Robert M. Page
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781847429865
- eISBN:
- 9781447304111
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429865.003.0006
- Subject:
- Political Science, Public Policy
Following a lengthy spell in opposition, the Conservatives returned to government in 2010. During their time in the political `wilderness’ the Conservatives, attempted to address their reputation as ...
More
Following a lengthy spell in opposition, the Conservatives returned to government in 2010. During their time in the political `wilderness’ the Conservatives, attempted to address their reputation as the `nasty’ party by adopting a compassionate Conservative narrative under William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. It was only after David Cameron became party leader in 2005 that a more influential progressive neo-liberal Conservative doctrine emerged. Cameron developed a more inclusive approach to those following non-traditional lifestyles such and adopted a more enlightened approach to those experiencing poverty. Cameron’s championing of the `Big Society’ was also intended to demonstrate his preference for increased reliance on non-state solutions in field of social policy.Less
Following a lengthy spell in opposition, the Conservatives returned to government in 2010. During their time in the political `wilderness’ the Conservatives, attempted to address their reputation as the `nasty’ party by adopting a compassionate Conservative narrative under William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard. It was only after David Cameron became party leader in 2005 that a more influential progressive neo-liberal Conservative doctrine emerged. Cameron developed a more inclusive approach to those following non-traditional lifestyles such and adopted a more enlightened approach to those experiencing poverty. Cameron’s championing of the `Big Society’ was also intended to demonstrate his preference for increased reliance on non-state solutions in field of social policy.
Robert M. Page
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781847429865
- eISBN:
- 9781447304111
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429865.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, Public Policy
Most Conservatives tend to agree that the welfare state should provide a safety net for those at risk of destitution and that it should not be used as a vehicle for major egalitarian forms of ...
More
Most Conservatives tend to agree that the welfare state should provide a safety net for those at risk of destitution and that it should not be used as a vehicle for major egalitarian forms of redistribution. However, the party’s approach towards the welfare state has ebbed and flowed since 1940 with particular strands of Conservatism dominating at particular times. Between 1950 and 1964 the One Nation Conservative tradition held sway. In a brief interregnum under Edward Heath, a modern technocratic approach to the welfare state came to the fore to be succeeded by the emergence of neo-liberal Conservatism under the Thatcher and Major governments. At present, a progressive, neo-liberal Conservative approach is holding sway. While this represents continued support for neo-liberal economic policies it has been combined with a `tough’ but `fair’ approach to those experiencing poverty. It remains to be seen how long whether this current variation of Conservatism will hold sway.Less
Most Conservatives tend to agree that the welfare state should provide a safety net for those at risk of destitution and that it should not be used as a vehicle for major egalitarian forms of redistribution. However, the party’s approach towards the welfare state has ebbed and flowed since 1940 with particular strands of Conservatism dominating at particular times. Between 1950 and 1964 the One Nation Conservative tradition held sway. In a brief interregnum under Edward Heath, a modern technocratic approach to the welfare state came to the fore to be succeeded by the emergence of neo-liberal Conservatism under the Thatcher and Major governments. At present, a progressive, neo-liberal Conservative approach is holding sway. While this represents continued support for neo-liberal economic policies it has been combined with a `tough’ but `fair’ approach to those experiencing poverty. It remains to be seen how long whether this current variation of Conservatism will hold sway.
Robert M. Page
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781847429865
- eISBN:
- 9781447304111
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- DOI:
- 10.1332/policypress/9781847429865.001.0001
- Subject:
- Political Science, Public Policy
This book takes an authoritative look at the policies and politics of Britain’s Conservative Party to discover if it has developed a distinctive approach to the post-war welfare state. After ...
More
This book takes an authoritative look at the policies and politics of Britain’s Conservative Party to discover if it has developed a distinctive approach to the post-war welfare state. After exploring the record of the wartime Conservative-led coalition government, attention is focussed on the progressive One Nation wing of the party. The author explores the efforts that were made to embrace the features of the welfare state that were compatible with underlying Conservative philosophy. The modern technocratic Conservative approach of the Heath government (1970-74) is then put under the spotlight as a prelude to a discussion of the neo-liberal Conservative approach to the welfare state which was instigated under successive Thatcher governments (1979-90) and solidified during John Major’s Premiership (1990-97). David Cameron’s progressive neo-liberal Conservative strategy (2005-15) is discussed in the penultimate chapter of the book. The epilogue discusses whether a distinctive Conservative approach to the welfare state emerged in the post-war era.Less
This book takes an authoritative look at the policies and politics of Britain’s Conservative Party to discover if it has developed a distinctive approach to the post-war welfare state. After exploring the record of the wartime Conservative-led coalition government, attention is focussed on the progressive One Nation wing of the party. The author explores the efforts that were made to embrace the features of the welfare state that were compatible with underlying Conservative philosophy. The modern technocratic Conservative approach of the Heath government (1970-74) is then put under the spotlight as a prelude to a discussion of the neo-liberal Conservative approach to the welfare state which was instigated under successive Thatcher governments (1979-90) and solidified during John Major’s Premiership (1990-97). David Cameron’s progressive neo-liberal Conservative strategy (2005-15) is discussed in the penultimate chapter of the book. The epilogue discusses whether a distinctive Conservative approach to the welfare state emerged in the post-war era.
